As updates on the impact of the coronavirus continue to be released, we want to take a moment to inform you of the heightened preventative measures we have put in place at Cove Forge Behavioral Health Center to keep our patients, their families, and our employees safe. All efforts are guided by and in adherence to the recommendations distributed by the CDC.

Please note that for the safety of our patients, their families, and our staff, on-site visitation is no longer allowed at Cove Forge Behavioral Health Center.

This restriction has been implemented in compliance with updated corporate and state regulations to further reduce the risks associated with COVID-19.

We are offering visitation through telehealth services so that our patients can remain connected to their loved ones.

Alternate methods of communication for other services are being vetted and may be offered when deemed clinically appropriate.

For specific information regarding these changes and limitations, please contact us directly.

CDC updates are consistently monitored to ensure that all guidance followed is based on the latest information released.

All staff has received infection prevention and control training.

Thorough disinfection and hygiene guidance has been provided.

Patient care supplies such as masks and hand sanitizer are being monitored and utilized.

Temperature and symptom screening protocols are in place for all patients and staff.

Social distancing strategies have been implemented to ensure that patients and staff maintain proper distance from one another at all times.

Opioids are a category of powerful legal and illegal substances that include both naturally occurring and synthesized derivatives of the opium poppy plant. Examples of opioids include heroin, morphine, opium, oxycodone (the active ingredient in the prescription medication OxyContin) and hydrocodone (one of the active ingredients in the prescription medication Vicodin).

Opioid use includes legitimate medical purposes, illicit self-medication, and recreational abuse. In medical situations, opioids are most commonly prescribed for their ability to alleviate mild to severe pain. The ability of opioids to induce sensations of euphoria, relaxation, and improved mood also make them enticing substances for individuals who intend to abuse them for recreational purposes. Regardless of an individual’s reasons for beginning to use opioids, these drugs pose a range of dangers, including both immediate and long-term damage. Opioid overdose can be lethal; chronic opioid abuse can lead to myriad physical, psychological, and socioeconomic problems; and all opioid use puts an individual at risk for addiction that may require professional care from an opioid addiction treatment and rehab center to overcome.

The powerful effects of opioids and the painful withdrawal symptoms that can occur in their absence can combine to make opioid use disorder extremely difficult to overcome without effective professional intervention. Thankfully, specialized programming such as the services that are available at comprehensive residential treatment centers have proved to be effective in the effort to help individuals overcome the compulsion to abuse opioids and make the lifestyle changes that will support long-term recovery. At Cove Forge Behavioral Health System, located in Williamsburg, Pennsylvania, we have been providing high-quality care for people who struggle with opioid abuse for more than 30 years. We understand the challenges that are faced by individuals at our treatment and rehab center who have an opioid use disorder, and we know how to help each person under our care overcome chemical dependency and live a life free from the influence of opioids.

How to Help a Loved One

Helping a loved one get treatment for opioid addiction

The signs, symptoms, and impact of opioid abuse or an opioid use disorder can vary significantly depending upon the substance that an individual is abusing, the length and intensity of that abuse, and a range of other factors. Regardless of these variables, though, if you discover that someone you care about has been abusing or has become dependent upon an opioid, the following steps can help you to make a positive difference in his or her life.

First, identify and educate yourself about the specific opioid that your loved one has been abusing. Helping a person who has been injecting heroin for recreational purposes will require a different approach than helping someone who has become dependent upon a prescription opioid after being treated for a medical condition. The more you understand what your loved one is dealing with, the better prepared you will be to provide meaningful assistance.

While familiarizing yourself about the drug that your loved one has been abusing, you should also learn about the disease of addiction. If your loved one has become dependent upon an opioid, he or she is not merely exhibiting poor judgment or a lack of self-discipline. Addiction is a chronic progressive disease that robs individuals of their ability to control their behaviors.

When you have a firm grasp on the concept of addiction and the specifics of the opioid that your loved one has become dependent upon, you are now ready to research treatment and rehab centers and identify programs that appear to provide the type and level of care that your friend or family member needs.

Once you have gathered all of this information regarding addiction treatment and rehab centers that specialize in opioid addiction, it is time to talk to your loved one. This can be a difficult conversation to have, and it is important that you prepare yourself for denial, deception, and even anger. Remember that your loved one is in crisis; do not be drawn into an argument, and do not allow the conversation to devolve into conflict.

When your loved one agrees that he or she needs help, plan to remain an active positive presence during and after he or she is in treatment and rehab at his or her chosen center for opioid addiction. If possible, participate in family-oriented activities at the treatment and rehab center, and make it known that you intend to be part of your loved one’s post-treatment support network. Recovery is a long-term process, and your continued help can be essential.

Abusing or becoming dependent upon heroin, morphine, prescription painkillers, or other opioids can have a profoundly negative impact on an individual’s physical, psychological, and social wellbeing. The physical impact of chronic opioid abuse can include vision problems, irregular heart rate and blood pressure, hypoxia (or oxygen deprivation), hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS. The cognitive and psychological impact of untreated opioid abuse or opioid use disorder can include anxiety, paranoia, impaired ability to focus or concentrate, hallucinations, and delusions. In terms of social, academic, or occupational health, individuals who are incapable of resisting the compulsion to abuse opioids put themselves at significant risk for academic failure and expulsion, job loss and unemployment, failed interpersonal relationships, financial devastation, arrest and incarceration, and a host of related setbacks. Diminished self-esteem, withdrawal and isolation, and suicidal ideations are not uncommon outcomes among individuals who do not get the professional help from a treatment and rehab center that specializes in opioid addiction that would allow them to overcome opioid use disorder.

Located in the serene countryside of historic Williamsburg, Pennsylvania, Cove Forge Behavioral Health System is a residential treatment and rehab center that provides life-changing services to adults, ages 18 and above, who are dealing with substance abuse, chemical dependency, and certain other co-occurring mental health disorders. At Cove Forge, men and women in crisis can receive a full continuum of evidence-based, research-supported care at our treatment and rehab center that is provided by dedicated professionals in a supportive atmosphere of dignity and respect.

Men and women who are struggling with substance abuse or addiction may receive treatment and rehab in our traditional rehabilitation program at our center. Individuals whose battle with opioid addiction is accompanied by a co-occurring mental health disorder may be best served in our dual diagnosis rehabilitation program. The dual diagnosis treatment option allows individuals at our treatment and rehab center to complete a personalized treatment plan that includes working with both a mental health counselor and a chemical dependency counselor.

Regardless of whether an individual participates in our traditional rehabilitation program or our dual diagnosis rehabilitation program, he or she will receive comprehensive treatment and rehab that has been customized to meet his or her unique needs. Depending upon the individual’s specific course of treatment, his or her Cove Forge experience may include the following elements:

Detoxification: Our detox program is a safe medically monitored environment in which individuals can rid their bodies of opioid prior to starting the comprehensive residential phase of their recovery. Care within our detox program at our opioid addiction treatment and rehab center is provided by compassionate and experienced professionals who endeavor to make detox as safe and comfortable as possible.

Medication management: When an individual is dealing with both drug dependency and a co-occurring mental health disorder, the inclusion of certain medications in his or her treatment and rehab plan may provide him or her with the best opportunity to achieve successful long-term recovery. All individuals who enter the dual diagnosis treatment program at Cove Forge will meet with a psychiatrist within 72 hours of their admission at our opioid addiction treatment and rehab center to determine if their treatment should include medication. Those who receive medication management services at Cove Forge Behavioral Health System will have the opportunity to attend additional meetings with a psychiatrist on an as-needed basis. Nurses, physicians, and physician assistants are also available at our Williamsburg-based treatment center to provide medication management services.

Individual therapy: Individual therapy is an excellent opportunity for individuals in treatment to meet with a counselor to process successes or setbacks and address other issues that are best discussed in a one-on-one session. While in treatment and rehab for opioid dependency at Cove Forge, individuals will participate in at least one 30-minute individual therapy session each week at our opioid addiction treatment and rehab center. Additional individual therapy sessions may be scheduled on an as-needed basis at our center.

Group therapy: Group therapy is a fundamental element of treatment at Cove Forge Behavioral Health System. Group sessions at our opioid addiction treatment and rehab center provide individuals with the opportunity to share their insights, learn from the experiences of others, and practice healthy interpersonal communication skills, all under the guidance of a qualified and experienced professional. Individuals in treatment and rehab at Cove Forge have the opportunity to participate in multiple group therapy sessions every day. The types of groups offered during an individual’s time at Cove Forge may include the following:

12-Step Meetings

Chemical Dependency Groups

Recovery Groups

Focus Groups

Refocus Groups

Mental Health Groups

Gratitude Groups

Gender Groups

Community Meetings

The specific content of any group will depend upon the contributions of the participants. However, during an individual’s time at Cove Forge, the following topics may be addressed during group therapy sessions at our opioid addiction treatment and rehab center:

Continuing care

12-Step study

Stress management

Relapse prevention

Post-acute withdrawal education

Continuing education

Family therapy: At Cove Forge Behavioral Health System, we understand the many ways that family members may be affected by an individual’s abuse of opioid, and we appreciate the important contributions that family members can make in the effort to support their loved one’s treatment and recovery. For these reasons, family therapy sessions are offered on an as-needed basis at our Williamsburg, PA treatment and rehab center. Family therapy sessions are conducted by experienced counselors and can also be beneficial in helping family members learn about their loved one’s recovery, address issues that affect them as individuals and as a family, and how they can best support their loved one’s continued successful recovery.

Family Program: The Family Program at Cove Forge is offered on Wednesdays and Saturdays each week at our opioid addiction treatment and rehab center. This program provides educational information for both the individuals who are in treatment and their family members. As part of this program at our treatment center, families can learn about the disease of chemical dependency and gain an understanding of what is involved in the recovery process. Additionally, individuals and their family members may use this time to address issues that may be affecting the recovery potential of the family system.

Experiential therapy: In addition to the more traditional therapeutic interventions, experiential therapies may also be incorporated into an individual’s treatment and rehab plan for opioid addiction during his or her time at Cove Forge. Experiential therapy options offered include the following:

Daily ropes / activities

Spirituality group

Music group

Exercise group

Bible study

Music program: Cove Forge offers an expanded music program that is designed to allow individuals in recovery to rediscover their passion for music. This program involves the study of music history and music appreciation, while also providing individuals at our opioid addiction treatment and rehab center with the chance to engage in a performance group and a recording group. Individuals who wish to take part in the music program during their time at Cove Forge will have the opportunity to write, produce, and record music, as well as to participate in performances.

H.O.P.E. Program: Cove Forge’s Heroin Opiate Positive Experience (H.O.P.E.) Program is designed to help individuals who are dependent on opioids truly recover from the effects of a destabilized endorphin system by offering a number of activities that help encourage a truly positive transformation. When individuals come to Cove Forge battling an addiction to opioid and opioids at the same time, they may benefit from participating in this opioid-specific treatment and rehab program, which includes the following life-changing activities:

P.A.W.S group

Brainwave entrainment

Humor group

Exercise program

Endorphin-enhanced foods

IT DID/I DID activity

Big Brother/Big Sister

Individual therapy sessions

Smoothie

Vivitrol/ReVia recovery support

Education opportunities with our H.O.P.E. nurses

Continuing Care

Continuing care and levels of treatment for opioid addiction

At Cove Forge, we understand that residential rehabilitation is just one step along the path of long-term recovery. To ensure that all who heal with us at our opioid addiction treatment and rehab center are best prepared to maintain and build upon the successes they may while in treatment, we provide thorough discharge planning services that begin the day a man or woman enters our program. Each individual is assigned a designated case manager who will work with him or her throughout his or her time treatment and rehab at our center to ensure that, when treatment has been completed, he or she has a complete plan that identifies the professional referrals, community-based services, and other resources that will be necessary to support his or her long-term recovery.

Regardless of a person’s past struggles, our goal at Cove Forge Behavioral Health System is to provide him or her with the comprehensive treatment that help him or her overcome the compulsion to abuse opioid and make the other lifestyle changes that will allow him or her to live a happier and healthier life, free from the chains of chemical dependency. If you or someone you care about could benefit from the life-changing treatment for opioid addiction at Cove Forge in Williamsburg, PA, contact our treatment center today. We can help.